After dinner, Isaac had taken me to a small coffee shop on the outskirts of the downtown district. I completely hadn’t expected it, but we stayed to see a local band play a set in a beautiful setting.

We drank coffee and talked for nearly an hour, before spending a lot more time dancing and laughing.

“Sorry,” He apologized with his familiar sly smile. “I’m a terrible dancer.” He leaned toward me and spoke loud enough to be heard over the music.

“You’re better than I am.” I smiled.

He laughed, “Absolutely not possible.”

He swung me out away from his body and pulled me near, dipping me backward.

I laughed harder, bending backward more than necessary.

When I straightened, his lips were already dangerously close to mine. My laughter quickly faded.

His hands moved to the sides of my face, lightly brushing my hair behind my ears.

I waited expectantly for him to kiss me, resisting the urge to absolutely jump him right then and there in the middle of the dance floor.

“I love you,” He murmured, so softly I barely heard him.

I smiled, my hands falling over his. “I love you too.” I moved his hands down and pulled them around me until his hands were placed on my back.

He immediately pulled me closer, and bent to rest his chin on my shoulder. My arms moved around his shoulders, tightly pressing against him.
We remained nearly motionless, rocking only softly to the music, and completely off-beat.

I laughed softly, never imagining myself as being completely smitten before. I admired the diamond engagement ring on my hand that was placed smoothly on his shoulder.
The ring still felt a little weird, I wasn’t yet used to it. But at the same time, I knew it belonged there.

“I should get you home.” He said suddenly; his breath dangerously warm on my ear.

“No!” I immediately protested, sounding suddenly very childlike. I was practically whining.

Isaac chuckled and softly kissed my cheek. “It’s two in the morning. I don’t suppose Lily will let you sleep in tomorrow.”

“No, probably not.” I sighed; feeling tired just thinking about it.

“The band is almost finished anyway… we’ll only miss the last song.”

I nodded slowly. “Alright.”

He took my hand and led me carefully from the club. He held open the passenger side door and helped me up the stairs, which I found wretchedly adorable, as usual.

The ride back to my mother’s house couldn’t last long enough. It was late, and I was doing my best to suppress a yawn, but I didn’t want the night to end.

Sooner than I expected, his car came to a gentle stop at the end of my mother’s driveway.

He turned off the engine so we could talk comfortably, and beneath the light of the street lamp, I saw him smile broadly at me. “I guess this is goodnight then.”

Before I could speak, or even begin to fabricate a reason why the night should last a little longer, Isaac slid across the front seat and his lips met mine.

Once again, I succumbed to his kisses, moving my hands into his hair to secure his lips to mine. I refused to release him any time soon.

His hand rested warmly on my knee, sending an unusual heat through the thin fabric of my dress.

I drew in a deep breath, and the scent of his soft cologne intoxicated me. My head swam with the proximity of our bodies in the tight confines of his car.

I met his kisses with equal passion, practically insisting that he take me then and there.

His hand slipped slowly up the inside of my thigh. I was sure I had forgotten to breath, but wound my hands tightly in his hair, securing his lips to mine.

Before we could get as far as I wanted to, he managed to remove his lips from mine, but remained close enough to let his warm breath drift over mine. “It’s late; I should let you get inside.”

The grin that greeted me through the darkness was slightly lopsided. I was almost entirely sure that our kisses were having the same effect on him as they were on me.

“Come inside.” I purred, stroking his tie in my hands, hoping he would take the hint.

Isaac glanced briefly toward the house. “Your mother is home, and probably asleep. And Lily, she’ll have you up bright and early…”

“Then lets go back to your place.” I urged, my eyes flickering to his. Before he could reply, I kissed him again and threw my arms around his neck.

He kissed me back for what seemed like less than a second before forcibly removing my arms. “I’ll come over tomorrow… okay?” He replied softly.

“Please?” I begged, leaning forward to kiss his jaw. “We can do it in the car… your back seat is pretty adequate.”

Isaac laughed out loud. “Come on, now. You’re making it harder and harder to be in control here.” He sighed and rested his forehead against mine. “There’s a small part of me that wants to cart you into that house and… well, ravish you.”

“I don’t think small is the term I would use to describe-“ He cut me off by laughing.

“I’ll make it up to you, okay? I think you should get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning. We’ll spend the day together.”

This time, I was unable to suppress a yawn. “Okay.” I admitted. “You’ll owe me, then.”

He gently kissed me one last time, this time keeping a carefully measured distance between our bodies. My eyes fluttered closed, and I barely felt him move away.

“Good night,” I whispered.

“Good night.” He smiled.

I slipped out of the front seat and jogged quickly up the front walk to escape the cool night air. He waited until I was safely in the house before I heard his car start and accelerate down the street.

I sighed and leaned happily back against the door. I had never believed that perfection in life could be achieved until that very moment. Despite my past, and the complications of Lily’s biology, I had the perfect man and soon to be the perfect life. And I was smiling like an idiot because of it.

“How was your night?”

My eyes flew open suddenly, and my mother appeared in the kitchen, in her night gown and house coat, and holding a cup of tea.

“Waiting up for me?” I teased.

She shrugged. “I just made some tea if you’d like some-“

I interrupted her before she could finish. “He proposed tonight! We’re engaged!” I practically shrieked, then remembered Lily was still sleeping. I continued in a whisper. “I love him so much!”

My mother smiled broadly. I had expected her to be thrilled, but her smile was knowing; I read her expression like a book.

“You knew?!” I demanded.

She nodded slowly. “Isaac visited me on my lunch break last week, and asked for permission to propose. He’s old fashioned, and thought he should go about things in the traditional route. Showed me the ring and everything… he’s head over heels for you Andy.”

I sighed happily. “I love him even more, if that’s possible. I’m so happy….I think I’ll smile like this for the rest of my life.”

“Good. He’s okay with what’s happened between you and Taylor, you had better hold on to him.” My mother said cradling her mug of tea.

I climbed the stairs and kissed her cheek softly. “I will, mom. There’s nothing that will make me let go of him.” I sighed. “I’ll need to get some sleep… Lily will be up in a number of hours…” with that said, I wished her a soft good night and wandered toward my bedroom in a giddy daze.